Squirrel hunters raise money for cancer

Updated: April 27, 2005, 6:14 PM ET

Squirrel hunters raise money for cancer

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By Taylor Wilson
Special to ESPNOutdoors.com

Greg Rader, Atwood, Tenn., scans for a squirrel treed by a mountain cur.

PARSONS, Tenn. — It is often said that good things can and do come from bad. An example of this in the outdoor world is the Natchez Trace Squirrel Hunters Club's Benefit Hunt.

The hunt first started here last year after two club members lost their mothers to cancer.

"My mother was very involved with the Relay For Life to raise money for the American Cancer Society," said Reggie Montgomery, Bath Springs, Tenn.

"She told me once that we should consider putting on a competition squirrel hunt to help raise money. So that's what we did."

Together with club member Danny Barham, Camden, Tenn., who also lost his mom to cancer, Montgomery and the other club members began the benefit competition hunt in 2004.

Competitors came from 14 states and over $22,000 was raised the first year for The American Cancer Society. Though, numbers hadn't been finalized at press time, organizers expected to top those numbers this year.

The money comes through entry fees, concession sales and general pass-the-hat donations.

"A lot of people work really hard to pull this off. I know my mother would be happy and it is certainly all for a good cause," Montgomery said.

Town goes to hounds

Taylor Wilson

Parsons, Tenn., is no stranger to running with the big dogs. In fact the western Tennessee town on the Tennessee River is no stranger to running with dogs of all sizes.

In addition to now hosting an annual competition squirrel hunt and festivities for the American Cancer Society; the town's fairgrounds has also served as headquarters for the World Largest Coon Hunt.

The latter event is held each spring and has been going on for 30 years. It has raised over $2.6 million for St. Jude's Children Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Both hunts are excellent example of how outdoorsmen are always willing to lend a helping hand through hunting and fishing.

The night before the hunt a bench show is held with honors going to those dogs that best represent the various squirrel hunting breeds.

In the bench show, judges score the dogs on a point system, with those exemplifying the most desirable traits of each breed receiving the higher scores in that division. Traditionally, awards are ribbons, trophies or plaques. Also, after competing and in various bench shows, dogs can accumulate points via wins and places and can be designated a Bench Champion.

On the day of the hunt, hunting parties scatter to various regions within an hour's drive of the hunt headquarters.

Three dogs hunt per cast for a total of two hours.

Dogs are judged on a scorecard with varying points awarded for various accomplishments in the field. For example, a dog barks treed and its owner calls it. Then another dog comes along and barks treed at the same locale, soon followed by the third dog. The scoring would go 125 points for the first dog to tree, 75 for the second and 50 for third.

Of course, points can likewise be taken away. For example, if a dog that was first to tree "pulls the tree" or leaves, that dog gets minus 125 points, and so on with the second or third dog to tree.

Or if handlers get to the tree and see no game, say there is a squirrel nest or hole in the tree, the dog's point are circled. There's no plus or minus, but "circle points" could be used to break a tie.

As with the bench show wins and places, points earned in hunts, via wins and places can elevate a dog's status/title in the competition world.

This year a scarce mast crop translated to tough hunting for many but several dogs and their handlers managed to tree several and put winning points on their cards. Here are the top finishers in the morning and afternoon casts:

Morning hunt